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Join us at our Adoption Information Event on 4/4/24

Find out more
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  • The Adoption Process
  • Types of Adoption
  • Preparing for Adoption
  • FAQs
  • Adopter Stories
  • The Children
  • Ask the Adopter
  • Being an Adoptive Parent
  • LGBTQ+ Adoption
  • Early Permanence
  • Support and eLearning
  • Pre-Adoption
  • Post-Adoption
  • Adoption Support Fund
  • Education Support
  • Life Story Book
  • Training
  • Talking About Adoption
  • Support for Adopted Children
  • Support for Adopted Adults
  • Support for Birth Families
  • Adoption Support Training Hub
    • Leicester
    • Leicestershire
    • Lincolnshire and Rutland
    • North Lincolnshire
    • Northamptonshire
    • Careers

Preparing for

Preparing for Adoption

Adoption

A question we get asked a lot is 'How can we prepare ourselves for adoption?' And it’s a great question since adoption is a lifelong commitment which should not be undertaken without very careful thought and preparation. Like all parenting it presents challenges and difficulties, some of which require perseverance to work through but it can also be intensely rewarding as you see your child develop and grow.

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Why not run through our adopter checklist to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. We welcome applications from single people and couples who…

  • Are married, single or divorced
  • Are straight or from the LGBTQ+ community
  • Come from all walks of life
  • Are over 21 (there’s no upper age limit as long as you are healthy enough to parent a child into adulthood)
  • Already have children (whether still living at home or grown-up)
  • Are a homeowner or living in rented accommodation
  • Are employed or unemployed
  • If applying as a couple, have lived together for 2 years
  • Have a local support network in place
  • Have a healthy lifestyle
  • Have allowed a 6 month gap after completing fertility treatment
  • Have experience in caring for children in the age group they would like to adopt
  • Are free from any criminal cautions or convictions for offences against children or sexual offences against adults
  • Are able to take 12 months adoption leave
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Prepare yourself for success, make changes to ensure your finances, lifestyle and support network are in tip top competition before you start the adoption process.

The adoption skillset

You may be worried that you don’t have right experience or skills to adopt. If this is the case, don’t worry too much as during our early meetings, we’ll explore your life experiences and identify the knowledge and skills you can bring as a successful adopter. You may not have lots of experience of looking after or raising children but you may have built other skills which will be invaluable as an adopter eg.

  • You may have younger siblings, nieces/nephews or friends children that you spend time with
  • You may have overcome being bullied at school and feel that your skills will enable you to support a vulnerable child
  • You may have managed grief or loss in your life which will lead to empathy with an adoptive child that may have experienced the same thing
Before you start the adoption process, you may like to consider the following…
  • What life experiences can you draw on to help you be a brilliant adoptive parent?
  • What child care experience do you have? What can you do to extend your experience?
  • What does your support network look like? How can they help you?
  • Consider your own childhood – how will this help shape you as a parent?

 

 

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First4Adoption

Take the First4Adoption Adoption Readiness quiz created to help you familiarise yourself with the typical questions you would be asked in the initial assessment phase of the adoption process.

Take Quiz